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August 27, 2009
When New Meets Old...
Anyone who thinks that new can’t compliment old and still maintain the integrity of old, has never been to Fanshawe Pioneer Village! Fanshawe is a wonderful heritage village that honors the “old” while conforming to modern realities! (More)

August 12, 2009
Search Me...
About a month ago Judi and I were coming home from the Brockville Riverfest. On our way back home we traveled along Highway #2. We reached Trenton at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Just as we reached the eastern outskirts of the city, we heard a roar overhead! (More)

July 18th, 2009
Living History...
On July 1st of this year our 15 year old nephew became a soldier! No, he did not join the Canadian Armed Forces! He did, however, join his fellow students and their history teacher in a re-enactment demonstration at the Cobourg Waterfront Festival. (More)

July 15th, 2009
Special Feature – St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
Every once in a while we visit an event that is so outstanding that we want to share it with others! The Festival that we attended last Saturday evening was such an event! (More)

July 8th, 2009
Bayside Boutique and Gallery
I am standing in a room surrounded by wonderful original art. Beside me is my longtime friend, floral artist Mary Kendrick. Outside the room’s windows I can see the sun dancing over the wave of a lake as they roll onto the shore! (More)

July 3rd, 2009
Sunset Cruises - Captain Randy Potts
I would not have believed if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes! One day last spring I drove to Bracebridge to meet Captain Randy Potts. Randy owns Sunset Cruises and the M.V. Idyllwood (More)

June 30th, 2009
Timber Works - Wood Turning
Back in January I wrote about a couple, Nancy and Rolly Hill that we met at the Kleinburg Binder Twine Festival. It was a wonderful festival, because we also met a fabulous “wood turner”, Arnold Veen! Arnold owns Timber Works Wood Turning and presents his creations all over Southern Ontario. (More)

June 23rd, 2009
McLean Berry Farm
"A short time ago I traveled north to the Buckhorn area to visit the McLean Berry Farm and Sam McLean. This is my article about Sam, his family and their farm." (More)

June10th, 2009
IlluminAqua
On Friday, June 12th Welland’s Merritt Park Theatre hosts the first in a series of seven concerts. IlluminAqua is about to start its 3rd triumphant season. (More)

June 6th, 2009
Special Article... New and Improved!
Hershey Chocolate has now left town and the festival has a new name, but the spirit and tradition lives on! Smiths Falls has always known how to throw a great party ... (More)

June 1st, 2009
Special Article… Special Festival
It has been designated as one of Ontario’s “Top 100 Festivals” by FEO (Festivals and Events Ontario)! It has won numerous awards of excellence! And, it is one of the top 5 festivals that Judi and I have visited! I am talking about the Mississauga Waterfront Festival! (More)

May 15th, 2009
The House That Jack Built…
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a play in Toronto, “The House That Jack Built”. The play was created and produced by members of the Suitcase Theatre Company. I had been invited to see the play by one of its creators, Whitney Smith. It was a “Puppet Musical” and had been developed especially for kids! (More)

May 10th, 2009
Toronto Harbourfront Centre
If you have never been to Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, you have missed a lot of fun and entertainment!. (More)

May 9th, 2009
Choosing Where to Go...
Going to a festival or event is very personal. Where you decide to go will depend on many factors, interests, location, costs, dates, etc. Finding out about festivals and events can be frustrating. (More)

May1st, 2009
Stratford Festival
My earliest memory of the Stratford Festival was when I was a kid in public school! Just getting there was a big adventure! My school friends and I excitedly boarded the school bus and then we were off! (More)

Archived Articles


Pricing Your Event…
Judi and I have been debating lately about the pros and cons of festival and event pricing. There are two thoughts. The first is to include all activities in the admission price, while the other is to price activities separately. This would allow visitors to pick and chose what they want to participate in. So, here are some of the pros and cons we thought of. I am sure that there are more. Please let us know what you think.
1. One Fee Admission
Pros
• Visitors know exactly what they are getting and at what cost
• Festival organizers don’t have to worry about which events will earn enough money to pay for themselves
• Festivals can experiment with new or innovative festival activities and events
• Festival accounting would be easier to manage with a single fee
• Fewer volunteers would be needed to collect money

Cons
• The higher cost of a single fee might discourage some people from attending event
• Some visitors may resent paying for festival events and activities they have no interest in
• Might reduce the amount of potential income, especially if there are a number of popular festival activities and events to chose from

2. Individual Fee Pricing
Pros
• Might encourage more people to attend, especially young families
• Allows people to chose what they want to see or participate in
• Acts as a “survey” for festivals to determine which festival activities and events their “customers” are interested in
• May be easier to attract event sponsors for specific festival activities or events

Cons
• Difficult to manage and account monies
• More volunteers needed for admission sales
• Festival organizers may not be willing to take a chance on new festival activities or events
• Visitors may resent being “nickeled and dimed”
• Possibility of visitor not bringing enough “cash” and then being limited to the number of festival events and activities they are able to participate in

I guess, in the long run, you have to know who your customers are and what and how they are willing to pay. Perhaps the best idea is to have a combination of both pricing plans. That is, keep the main admission price low but charge extra for the more costly festival activities and events. The ultimate solution is to have the expensive events paid for by sponsors. Not an easy task in these economic times!

 


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